Practically Kosher
Apr 1, 2026 · 47 min · 10 segments
Is it Kosher to question Kashrut? A listener writes, “Why do Jews have Kosher rules? And how would you suggest a previously unobservant Jew approach Kashrut, if at all?” Rabbi Shira admits that…
Apr 1, 2026 · 47 min · 10 segments
Is it Kosher to question Kashrut? A listener writes, “Why do Jews have Kosher rules? And how would you suggest a previously unobservant Jew approach Kashrut, if at all?” Rabbi Shira admits that…
Shira StutmanHost
Hanna RosinHost
Recently, I attended a class at the conservative synagogue entitled Practical Halacha, which I really would have termed Impractical Halacha.
The discussion by the rabbi was around a familiar theme, separating milk and meat.
But it was so arcane and confusing that even the members in the group who already keep kosher had trouble following it.
Like, can you? Because it just makes the whole enterprise of Judaism feel like ancient and irrelevant, which is like the opposite of Shirodom.
In our current society, there is virtually zero chance of this happening unless you are that rare person who lives on a farm and raises goats and sheep.
Even so, if you are cooking lamb and use cow's milk, you are also not violating the biblical prohibition.
In fact, the Endless making of rules and rules upon rules vastly increases the chances of you making a mistake.
And I think a lot of people who don't know as much as you do just struggle with the why.
Recently, I attended a class at the conservative synagogue entitled Practical Halacha, which I really would have termed Impractical Halacha.
The discussion by the rabbi was around a familiar theme, separating milk and meat.
But it was so arcane and confusing that even the members in the group who already keep kosher had trouble following it.
Like, can you? Because it just makes the whole enterprise of Judaism feel like ancient and irrelevant, which is like the opposite of Shirodom.
In our current society, there is virtually zero chance of this happening unless you are that rare person who lives on a farm and raises goats and sheep.
Even so, if you are cooking lamb and use cow's milk, you are also not violating the biblical prohibition.
In fact, the Endless making of rules and rules upon rules vastly increases the chances of you making a mistake.
And I think a lot of people who don't know as much as you do just struggle with the why.
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